To Please Trump Without Alienating the Base: Netanyahu's Election Dilemma

Prime Minister Netanyahu faces a sharp political dilemma two and a half months before the elections: on one hand, pressure from President Trump to advance his plan for Gaza, and on the other, fear of disappointing his support base. The strikes in Gaza have ceased, and polls are not encouraging for the coalition. Commentators note that the agreement with Hamas is not the 'total victory' Netanyahu promised.

Almost three years after the October 7 massacre, and two and a half months before the elections, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu finds himself in a political bind. On one hand, US President Donald Trump is pressuring him to advance his plan for the Gaza Strip, which includes significant concessions. On the other hand, Netanyahu fears disappointing his support base, to whom he promised 'total victory' over Hamas. Polls so far are not encouraging for the coalition, and the opposition bloc is overtaking it. The strikes in Gaza have ceased, and fighters say they have moved from an offensive to a reactive posture. The IDF has raised the approval level for strikes to the Chief of Staff. A source in the 'Peace Council' told Reuters that the 15-point plan is still in effect. According to the New York Times, Netanyahu agreed to order the IDF to stop strikes following pressure. The paper quoted Shira Efron, head of Israel policy at the RAND Corporation, who said Netanyahu is 'walking a political tightrope.' Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir said the IDF is prepared to return to intense fighting.